Research

My research portfolio is defined by its originality, societal relevance, and impact. As a leading scholar in the field of inclusive entrepreneurship, I have made significant contributions that advance academic theory, inform policy development, and shape practice. I adopt transdisciplinary research approaches that connect academic disciplines with non-academic knowledge and stakeholder collaboration, aiming to address real-world challenges and promote social inclusion.

Explore the tabs below to learn more about my research contributions.

Friere Circle, Pre-Texts Community Workshop

O’Brien, E., and Cooney, T.M. (2025) Enhancing inclusive entrepreneurial activity through community engagement led by higher education institutions Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and places in the global economy 19 (2)177-201

O’Brien, E., and Cleary, G., (2024) Knowing the dancer from the dance – Exploring the Influence of Teaching Portfolios in Entrepreneurial Education. Irish Journal of Management 43(1) 1-13.

McQuillan, D, O’Brien E., Briones Peñalver, A.J., Clitan, I., Gavigan, S., Stan, O., Christou, A., (2023) Re-Imagining Higher Education Institutions as inclusive entrepreneurial entities: the case of European University of Technology, RISE 2022, EUt+Academic Press.

O’Brien, E.; Brophy, M. and Cooney, T.M.(2022). A New Approach to Self-Assessment of Community Engagement – A Case Study of Technological University Dublin. Journal of Community Engagement in Higher Education 14(4) 4-13

O’Brien, E., Ilic, B. Ć., Veidemane, A., Dusi, D., Farnell, T., and Schmidt, N. Š. (2021). Towards a European framework for community engagement in higher education–a case study analysis of European universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 23(4) 815-830

O’Brien, E., Cooney, T. M., and Blenker, P. (2019). Expanding University Entrepreneurial Ecosystems to under-represented Communities. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy,8(3) 384-407